Starting in the 1950's the Federal Civil Defense Agency set up a Rescue Service Program, principally to deal with "Atomic Attack" but also capable of responding to natural disasters as well. Part of the program was a set of standards and patterns for light and heavy rescue trucks available via a grant system. The light trucks were generally on panel trucks commonly GMC, IH and JEEP. The Heavy Rescues known as "Calamity Janes" were built on REO among others. These trucks were a vey common sight. It seems almost every community had at least one. Some had many. Two large purchasers were Chicago and Seattle. Chicago's were a very well organized group and have a nice page at the Chicago Fire Museum website. There are one or two pictures spread around this site. Would it be possible to post pictures and info about these Light or Heavy models, on a thread here. If ya' got'm, post em.

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This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions! What do you mean "biblical"? What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath of God type stuff! Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanos! The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

My brother photographed this 1956 GMC "Calamity Jane" somewhere in Chester County, PA. this past summer. It was remarkably well-preserved and for sale fairly cheap. I wanted to get a better photo of it myself, but it's gone now.

Harmonville Fire Company of Plymouth township Montgomery county ran one of these old pieces for years out of their Butler Pike station. Old call sign was 44-6-5. I think it was replaced in 1979 by a GMC- Saulsbury...

You guys are great. There are a lot of REO Chassis'd pics out there but the Heavy Pattern GMC's I have not seen as frequently.

« Last Edit: November 07, 2008, 10:21:26 PM by FAO25 »

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This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions! What do you mean "biblical"? What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath of God type stuff! Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanos! The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

A couple of former "Janes" that had been repainted. Too bad I didn't poke around more for a name of the body manufacturer on the Lebanon rig. I wasn't quite as inquisitive back in the 70's. The GMC chassis rig certainly is different!

One of the interesting things about these rigs is what they ended up as. Many communities converted them into a wide variety of specialty vehicles. Some were given to police departments for use as tactical team vehicles or ESU's after the fire dept. stopped using them. Some were originally purchased by PD's for use as ESU's.

This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions! What do you mean "biblical"? What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath of God type stuff! Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanos! The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

The Independence Fire Co. No. 1 of Palmyra, NJ also ran a 1957 GMC Civil Defense truck. Although I am not sure if it was delivered in the standard blue and white paint scheme, at some point, the truck was painted red. There is a grainy black and white photo of it in the company's 1975 Housing and Dedication program of their new 1975 Mack/Swab Wagon Co. heavy rescue. The truck retained it's Civil Defense logo and "Rescue" (CD logo) "Service" and "Palmyra" on the side. The truck was later donated to the Burlington County First Aid Academy in Westhampton. The where abouts of the truck after the early 80's is unknown to me.I believe that Camden, NJ also ran a "Calamity Jane" back in the '50's. If I recall correctly, a firefighter was killed when the vehicle was involved in an accident.

Thanks for posting. Great pic, unusual to see the Jib rigged on the front bumper.

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This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions! What do you mean "biblical"? What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath of God type stuff! Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanos! The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

The Jib was permanently attached, and was never removed, to anyones knowledge. The old timers said it was like driving a gunsight down the road. It is rumored a wrecking yard in White Marsh bought the Reo, and used it as a yard crane. Its whereabouts today are unknown. The IH was sold to Delta-Cardiff (York Co 57) and ran as their Rescue 651 and later Utility 663.Its whereabouts are also unknown.

This is Birmingham AL's 1953 REO CD truck. It managed to hang on in the department until about 2000 when it was sold. It languished in a used car lot until it was purchased and re-furbished. It lost its' roof access ladder, extension ladder and stokes basket along the way. It was re-painted by the BFD in this scheme late in its' life. When refurbished it got the BFD colors again. Original inside but no equipment. A little over 4200 mi. on the odometer. A real Cold War gem.